MesseCity Cologne and Trade Fair South
Why is it significant?
Walk out into the sleek, modern pedestrian plaza of MesseCity Cologne, stretching between the southern entrance of the Koelnmesse trade fair and the Cologne Messe/Deutz high-speed rail hub.
Key Facts
| Place | MesseCity Cologne and Trade Fair South |
|---|---|
| Address | Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany |
| Geo Coordinates | 50.94200, 6.98050 |
| Part of Walk | Deutz, Rhine Boulevard and Right Bank: Roman Castrum, Cathedral Skyline and Riverfront Parks |
| Generated | Generated |
Walk out into the sleek, modern pedestrian plaza of MesseCity Cologne, stretching between the southern entrance of the Koelnmesse trade fair and the Cologne Messe/Deutz high-speed rail hub. Completed in 2021, this ambitious corporate campus of red-brick and glass office towers represents a major new architectural gateway welcoming international business travelers to the Rhineland.
Koelnmesse was originally founded in 1924 under the visionary leadership of Cologne's then Lord Mayor Konrad Adenauer, who recognized that international commerce and industrial exhibitions would be vital to rebuilding Germany's post-war economy. Today, with over two hundred and eighty-four thousand square meters of exhibition hall space, it ranks as the third-largest trade fair center in Germany and one of the top ten worldwide.
Every August, this district becomes the undisputed gaming capital of planet Earth when gamescom, the world's largest video games and interactive entertainment festival, takes over the exhibition halls. Hundreds of thousands of international gamers, developers, and cosplayers arrive by train, filling the plazas with extraordinary creative energy and vibrant digital culture. The intricate stone carvings and historic architectural details continue to captivate historians and travelers from around the world. Generations of dedicated Cologne residents have cherished this distinctive landmark, preserving its remarkable legacy for the future.
Other world-leading industrial fairs hosted here include Anuga, the premier global food and beverage expo, and the International Hardware Fair. MesseCity was designed to meet strict ecological sustainability criteria, featuring green rooftops, energy-efficient geothermal climate systems, and seamless pedestrian access to national rail networks. Walking through these storied avenues offers a profound sense of how Cologne evolved across two millennia of dramatic European history. The harmonious interplay between ancient Rhenish heritage and vibrant contemporary neighborhood culture defines the unforgettable character of this location.
Walk westward along Barmer Strasse toward Rheinparkweg to reach the historic mid-century leisure grounds of the Tanzbrunnen on the riverbank.